Rainbow Wedding Network Claims NY and GA Court Rulings Strengthen and Intensify the Fight for GLBT Marriage and Family Equality

Share Article

Rainbow Wedding Network has been involved in the marriage equality struggle for seven years. Although July's court rulings in New York and Georgia seem like a set back their resolve to keep fighting is even stronger now.

Asheville, NC (PRWEB)July 10, 2006

According to the Los Angeles Times on July 7, 2006 “the gay-marriage movement suffered two major defeats on the state level Thursday, as Georgia’s Supreme Court upheld an amendment banning the unions (Perdue v. O’Kelley et al., S06A1574), and New York’s highest court ruled that its state constitution did not grant same-sex couples the right to wed (NY State Court of Appeals Case No. 86, 87, 88 and 89).” However, Cindy Sproul and Marianne Puechl, co-founders of Rainbow Wedding Network Magazine and RainbowWeddingNetwork.com, believe the defeats are a call to action for the GLBT community and its allies. “These decisions are certainly a setback no one can deny,” states Sproul, “but we see every day how these situations strengthen and intensify our community’s commitment to protecting our families and civil rights as citizens of this country.”

Sproul and Puechl have been leaders in the same-sex wedding industry since 1999. Inspired by their personal journey as same-sex partners the women began http://www.RainbowWeddingNetwork.com to help GLBT friendly wedding professionals connect with same-sex couples interested in having commitment ceremonies throughout the United States. The website currently has over 4500 vendors listed throughout the nation and in Canada. “Long before ‘gay marriage’ was in the spotlight same-sex couples publicly acknowledged their relationships with ceremonies and celebrations,” says Puechl. “Legally recognized or not, same-sex couples will continue to have long term relationships and to raise children.”

Since the release of the New York and Georgia rulings marriage equality and GLBT rights organizations across the nation have announced their dedication to the protection of GLBT civil rights and families. “As a community we are not going to back down,” adds Sproul. “Now is the time for likeminded factions to take real action personally, professionally and financially.” “It is time Americans who believe in freedom and equality, the principles our country was founded on, take a stand,” continues Puechl. “We urge everyone to think carefully about where and how they spend their money this year. We can utilize our power in so many vital ways, through volunteering, contributing and through the green of our day-to-day purchasing power. We absolutely must support one another and reject all forms of discrimination.” The New York ruling comes after the recent, high profile gay bashing of Kevin Aviance in the Village.

Rainbow Wedding Network plans to continue its efforts within the GLBT marriage and family equality sector both online and in print and its production of the national Same Love, Same Rights™ GLBT Wedding and Family Expos. For more information visit http://www.RainbowWeddingNetworkMagazine.com.